EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Baysox, Clark Have Reading's Number

Published on August 21, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


(Bowie, MD) - Zach Clark continued the string of dominant pitching by Baysox starters, leading Bowie to a sweep over Reading Thursday night. Shortstop Blake Davis went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and Matt Wieters went 3-for-4 with a walk and 2 runs to lead the Baysox offense in the contest. It was the final meeting between the teams this year and the win gave Bowie a 12-4 season series victory.

Reading got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jeremy Slayden hit a one-out single. Clay Harris picked up a base hit to move Slayden to second and Neil Sellers smashed a double to right field, scoring Slayden. With runners on second and third and one out, Clark retired the side in order to hold the Phillies to a 1-0 lead.

The Baysox struck back to get even in the top of the fifth. Blake Davis hit a two-out single and Jonathan Tucker tripled him home to tie the game at 1-1.

Bowie scored three more in the top of the sixth when Matt Wieters got things going with a one-out base hit. Steve Torrealba and Jeff Nettles followed with singles to load the bases and Mike Rodriguez singled Wieters in to give Bowie the lead. Travis Brown hit a ground ball to second but Luke Appert committed an error that allowed Torrealba and Nettles to come home. Rodriguez tried to advance to third on the play, but Brad Harman threw him out. Davis picked up another single but the Baysox could not increase their 4-1 lead.

The Baysox did get a chance to increase that lead in their next turn at bat. Carlos Rojas led off the top of the seventh with a base hit. Matt Wieters hit a one-out single and Steve Torrealba walked to load the bases. Jeff Nettles reached on a fielding error that allowed Rojas to score and the bases remained loaded. With Mike Rodriguez at the plate, a passed ball allowed Wieters to come home and the runners each advanced. Travis Brown drew a two-out walk to load the bases again for Blake Davis and Davis delivered again with another base hit, plating Torrealba and Nettles to push the lead to 8-1.

Clark worked 7.0 innings, allowing just one run on five hits. This was the third start in his last five that he has worked at least 7.0 innings and he has gone at least 6.0 in each of his last six outings. He allowed one walk and struck out three Thursday night, improving his record to 3-1 in eight starts for Bowie.

Ryan Keefer closed out the Phillies, allowing a run and two walks through 2.0 shutout innings. With the victory, the Baysox improved to 78-54, still 3.0 games ahead of Akron for first place in the Southern Division. With Harrisburg's loss to Trenton Thursday, the Baysox magic number is down to just one with ten games left to play. The Baysox look to clinch a spot in the postseason Friday night, beginning a three-game set in Binghamton with RHP Jason Berken (11-3, 3.54 ERA) going up against Mets RHP Tobi Stoner (4-5, 3.96 ERA).

The Bowie Baysox are out to Beat The Streaks in their 16th season as the "AA" affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Baysox have not reached the postseason since 1997 and have never reached the Eastern League Championship. Playoff tickets are available now; tickets for all remaining regular season games are available on www.baysox.com or by calling the box office at (301) 464-4865.

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Eastern League Stories from August 21, 2008


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